Pakistani leaders have sent condolence messages to China immediately after the strong earthquake that hit southwestern China, said Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Sadiq on Tuesday.

Sadiq said Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani sent their condolences to China on Monday after the earthquake occurred.

"I am deeply shocked and grieved at the loss of precious lives of our Chinese brethren and damage to property caused by the severe earthquake that hit China," said a message sent by Musharraf to Chinese President Hu Jintao, which was posted on Pakistan Foreign Ministry website.

"On behalf of the people and government of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I would like to convey our deep sympathies to the bereaved families and to all those who have been affected by this calamity. We are sure that the resilient people of China will recover from the aftermath of this disaster in the shortest possible time," Musharraf said.

"At this difficult time, we stand by the great Chinese people and assure them of our full support and solidarity," said Musharraf in the message.

Gilani also sent condolences to his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, saying the people of Pakistan join the Chinese people in mourning the loss of so many precious lives.

"We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Chinese nation and members of the bereaved families," he said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims at this moment of grief and sorrow," Gilani said in a message.

The deadly earthquake that rocked southwestern China and was felt all across the country and beyond has killed more than 10,000 people by early Tuesday, and the death toll is expected to climb as rescue efforts intensified.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)